ADVICE FOR NEW POSTIES

[wabbithunta]

1) Don't expect to get any help from managers... YOU WON'T!!!
2) Don't expect to finish on time... YOU WON'T!!!
3) Don't expect to get any Saturdays off... YOU WON'T!!! (If you're lucky enough to get a day off, it'll be a Tuesday!)
4) Don't expect to enjoy Christmas anymore... YOU WON'T!!!
5) The only thing you can be sure of, is you think this is going to be a good job, in 6 months time.... YOU WON'T!!!

A pessimist by nature, are you? lol

[wozza1000]

A pessimist by nature, are you? lol

A pessimist "one who habitually expects the worst"... no expectation here, I've experienced it & watched countless new starters go through the same!

[2pints]

Do not let them give you tuesday as a day off every week.I had tue for 3 weeks running and raised my issue,manager said thats how it is.I complained to the manager above him stating my legs are getting hammered due to working heavy days all time and he got me a friday the following week.Unfortunately unless you speak up and stand your ground in this job you will be walked all over like a doormat.

My advice would be to JOIN THE UNION ASAP..i have been on the job for 2 years now as a reserve and have only just joined(awaiting response) i wish i did it sooner,although i did hand a form in the rep obviously didnt bother actioning it!

[Supermac0151]

well after being directed to this forum by blue terrier i dont know what to think! conflicting opinions!! sounds like an office lottery to me..im at liverpool and i know its antiquated and most of the staff have been there since bread was invented so i dont know if thats a good thing? I will just have faith in my own ability but heed the warning about managment/breaks/overtime etc.

I find it strange that theres no actual pages (that i can find?) regrading actual christmas bonuses/overtime pay rates etc i assume its something ill just have to figure out. thanks guys!

[Ewah]

1) Don't expect to get any help from managers... YOU WON'T!!!
2) Don't expect to finish on time... YOU WON'T!!!
3) Don't expect to get any Saturdays off... YOU WON'T!!! (If you're lucky enough to get a day off, it'll be a Tuesday!)
4) Don't expect to enjoy Christmas anymore... YOU WON'T!!!
5) The only thing you can be sure of, is you think this is going to be a good job, in 6 months time.... YOU WON'T!!!

You are 100% right! But it only took 3 months! Any way my contract is ending and they are letting me go - because there isn't enough work! Yet they keep asking me to come in early and stay late; almost as if they want people on a 25 hour a week contract to work 40 hours a week. But why advertise for a part timer if you want them to work full time? I could see the writing on the wall when I told the manager I had a school run to do so couldn't come in before 9 and had to finish by 3 at the latest - after that his attitude changed. It is a shame as I love the job - I just don't like working for Royal Mail. Advice for new posties? WATCH YOUR BACK!

[MisterPostie]

1) Don't expect to get any help from managers... YOU WON'T!!!
2) Don't expect to finish on time... YOU WON'T!!!
3) Don't expect to get any Saturdays off... YOU WON'T!!! (If you're lucky enough to get a day off, it'll be a Tuesday!)
4) Don't expect to enjoy Christmas anymore... YOU WON'T!!!
5) The only thing you can be sure of, is you think this is going to be a good job, in 6 months time.... YOU WON'T!!!

You are 100% right! But it only took 3 months! Any way my contract is ending and they are letting me go - because there isn't enough work! Yet they keep asking me to come in early and stay late; almost as if they want people on a 25 hour a week contract to work 40 hours a week. But why advertise for a part timer if you want them to work full time? I could see the writing on the wall when I told the manager I had a school run to do so couldn't come in before 9 and had to finish by 3 at the latest - after that his attitude changed. It is a shame as I love the job - I just don't like working for Royal Mail. Advice for new posties? WATCH YOUR BACK!

That's exactly what they want, at least it is in our office anyway. None of the jobs can be done within part time hours unless a certain amount of prep work is done before the part timers come in. The prep work is rarely done which means they have to do it themselves, then take out the delivery and have to extend. They pay the overtime but the pay isn't pensionable, on the rota'd week off they only pay the 25 hours (though most of the time the postie works at least some of it to try to make up for the lost hours) and it saves on holiday pay too, win win all round for RM.

[terry2972]

I think you are wrong about the pension when I do overtime pension contributions are taken up to the full time rate obviously not over the fulltime rate so for me I need to do 12hrs a week to get full pension contribution each week

[indurain]

what 2pints said


I started on the longest round at the office on a 20 hour contract doing 40 hours a week

Tuesday was my day off every week for nearly 3 months until I asked whether I could do 4 days instead

ok'd by one manager, one said I had to do 5 days at first but I was able to keep doing 4 days, after a year altogether on that round I was able to transfer to the shortest round at the office 5 days a week which while being impractical with travelling I jumped at the chance since I was sick of the old round by then.

This was at a different office further away than the one I was contracted to, I never even went to that office

advice for new posties?
If you suspect you're being taken advantage of don't try and please the managers/co-workers thinking it might be just be a few weeks until you get moved/sorted out on the rota, you have to speak to them or you'll be stuck with the s**t job, and you won't get any help from the full timers with the cushy rounds til you do

[rp1608]

I think I am about to be offered a job, but for the first time in 8 years I have some back pain, which is typical isn't it. So don't feel I can start now, which is VERY ANNOYING! Any advice, I guess I will have to let this opportunity go, I don't want to start a job and then look unreliable!

[Roadie82]

Anyone on here work at the weston super mare office? Just interested in hearing what it's like as I've been offered a job there, but after reading the forum I'm slightly worried that I won't enjoy the job.

[foxy90]

Hi roadie82,
I'd say go for it. I'm a new postie (not done a Christmas yet apart from a casual drafted into deliveries last year). The first few weeks were hard (I seriously thought it would be a doddle) but it gets easier. The banter in the office makes it worthwhile and the vast majority of folk you'll meet on your rounds are ok. Don't know what Weston's like, but go into it expecting a' challenging' few weeks and see how it goes.
Foxy

[POSTWOMAN]

1.You get 3 minutes per close/house with mostly 3 floors & 6 flats . ( a 4 hour walk should have maximum 80 closes assuming you only have closes in your walk. If you have other points of delivery like shops or single houses then it should have less than 80 closes for a 4 hour walk)

2.You get 15 minutes for pouching off.

3.In my office the system was we have vertical marked up slots for different days of Door to doors. Lets say for Tuesday we have 1 vertical section which can seen in the picture on the table of the frame. So ask the manager ASAP why you are made to deliver the vertical sections of lets say Monday or Wednesday. As for Monday the door to doors should have been delivered by the guy on that day & for Wednesday the door to door will be delivered by the guy tomorrow.

Can someone correct the facts & figures if am wrong.
Please mention new facts & figures so that it can be useful for the newbie posties.
The reason am interested in these facts & figures because you cannot get this info from your office or any other source. Secondly with this info you are better equipped for argument with your manager instead of just saying I cannot do overtime.

[POSTWOMAN]

What you need

Worked for me as its good for knee which is abused in our job.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Osteo-Bi-Flex-S ... B00B18A1W2" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Good for joints.
http://www.boots.com/en/Seven-Seas-Cod- ... sules_505/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I used to mix it with Kellogs Special K to make a smoothie for breakfast before I leave office.
http://www.dolphinfitness.co.uk/en/dyma ... 2275g/3858" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Just a few sip in a very small cup if you feel sleepy.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Rocket-Fuel-Ene ... B0043PVZNY" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I cant remember which one but I had one which was very thick and acted as cushion.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Industrial-Work ... B005342GU0" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Helps the feet
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Orthotic-insole ... 831&sr=1-1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.boots.com/en/Scholl-Shock-Ab ... -_1213121/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Ak97]

Don't work for free - I've been a postie for 8 months and you really need to write down after each shift start and finish times and book them the next working day. management will with a shadow of a doubt have you working for free, and they have no thought about it unless you push for it.

[JeremyFisher]

My advice is don't be expected to be treated fairly.
Expect injustices, don't expect a bigger contract, it won't happen.
Expect lots of physical pain especially the first month or so.
Expect to be too knackard to do another job in the evening to make up for your tiny contract.
Expect plenty of overtime.
Expect the manager will pressure you to do more work.
Don't expect manager to care about you.
Join the union as soon as you can.

It's not the worst job in the world but a reality check is needed, this is now a company with shareholders and they want as much return on their investment as possible and they are penny pinching at every opportunity.